A lot of people don’t realize it, but their vehicles are constantly sending out warnings. From the sound of your horn to the flashing of your lights, your car is constantly communicating with other drivers. One of the most common messages is “don’t drive if you’re under the influence.” But what about when you have to remove an airbag? In this blog post, we will show you how to safely and quickly remove an airbag from a steering wheel. From there, you can continue driving as usual. By following these simple steps, you can reduce the chances of getting into a minor accident or worse.
What you need
If your airbag light is on and you think it might be the cause of the problem, there are a few things you can do to try and correct the issue. First, make sure all the hardware is properly fastened to the car. This includes bolts, washers, and nuts. Make sure that any plastic or rubber pieces on the hardware are properly sealed against moisture and corrosion. If necessary, replace any defective hardware.
Once all of the hardware is properly tightened down, you should check to see if there’s anything obstructing the airbag deployment trigger. It’s possible that something (a piece of debris, a hair) has lodged in between the airbag sensor and deployment trigger, preventing it from activating. In this case, gently remove whatever obstruction is causing the issue and re-install everything back into place.
If all of these steps fail to fix your airbag light, then your car may require a repair center to take a look at it.
How to do it
If you are like most drivers, the last thing you want to do is deal with an airbag. However, if your airbag becomes inoperative or if it otherwise needs to be removed, it can be done relatively easily and without much hassle. The following steps should help you get the job done as quickly and easily as possible:
1) Park your vehicle in a safe location with the engine off.
2) Remove the steering wheel cover.
3) Disconnect the negative battery cable.
4) Remove the four screws that hold the airbag module in place (two on each side).
5) Gently pull out the airbag module.
Tips and warnings
If your airbag has been deployed, there are a few things you should do to safely remove it. Be aware that if the airbag is still armed and active, it could cause serious injury or death.
1. Disconnect the battery cable and wait 10 minutes: If there’s still an explosive charge in the airbag, waiting 10 minutes will allow it to dissipate. After 10 minutes, if the airbag is still not removable, use a wrench to turn the screws on either side of the airbag cover (see image below) until it pops off.
2. Carefully remove the inflator: The inflator can pose a serious risk of explosion if damaged or exposed. Use caution when removing it, as sparks may be created from metal against metal contact. Once the inflator is removed, store it in a safe place out of reach of children.
3. Remove the sensor: The sensor is usually located on top of the steering wheel column near where your hand rests when driving (see image below). Use a screwdriver to unscrew and remove the sensor; be careful not to damage it and keep it in a safe place so you can reattach it later if needed.
4. Disconnect all wiring: When removing the steering wheel assembly from the car, disconnect all wiring so they don’t get damaged in transit. Also make sure any mounting bolts that hold on parts such as instruments or the horn are removed before